Police appeal after pregnant woman attacked in front of her young children at bus stop in Barking

Police are appealing for witnesses to an attack at a bus stop on a pregnant woman who had two young children with her.

A 30 year old woman was attacked by a man who had pushed her off of a route 173 bus claiming that there was no room for her and the pushchair which held her nine month old baby.

When the victim was off the bus the man allegedly punched her repeatedly in the face, chest and shoulders.

When she attempted to call police he took her phone and threw it to the floor smashing it.

Officers from Barking and Dagenham were called to Ripple Road at around 4 PM on Monday, 27th April.

When they arrived the assailant, a 28 year old, assaulted a police officer.

He was arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm, assault on police and resisting arrest, and was taken to an east London police station.

He was then bailed to a date in early June.

The victim was taken to an east London hospital for treatment to bruising to her face and upper body.

Checks were also carried out to ensure that her unborn child had not been harmed during the attack.

The baby in the pushchair and the woman’s five year old daughter did not sustain any injuries.

The victim was discharged from hospital later that day.

Detective Sergeant Beverley Williams said:

This was a despicable attack on a defenceless pregnant woman who had simply boarded a bus with her nine-month-old child and her five-year-old daughter. Her older child has been left traumatised after seeing her mother being assaulted.

I am appealing to anyone who was at the bus stop or on the bus who has yet to come forward to please get in contact and assist us with our investigation. The information you provide may prove valuable.

Anyone who witnessed this incident but has not yet come forward is asked to contact Barking and Dagenham CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.